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Milestones

Implementation

PR #2260: Add RISC-V CLIC and CLINT interrupt controller support has been posted to support for the RISC-V Core Local Interrupt Controller (CLIC) and the CLINT (Core Local Interruptor) in the LiteX SoC framework.

Hardware Changes

There are two Interrupt Controller Implementations that have been added to Litex SOC framework which enables LiteX-based RISC-V SoCs to choose between CLINT and CLIC.

Both controllers expose standardized signals for integration:

  • CLINT:

    • timer_interrupt
    • software_interrupt

  • CLIC:

    • clic_interrupt
    • clic_interrupt_id
    • clic_interrupt_priority

CLINT Hardware Integration in Litex

The basic RISC-V interrupt architecture defined in the RISC-V privileged specification, using CSRs (Control and Status Registers) like mie and mip for interrupt management.

Summary of Changes:

  1. CLINT Core Module (litex/soc/cores/clint.py):

    • Multi-HART support with configurable num_harts parameter.
    • Separate timer and software interrupt outputs per HART.
    • 64-bit MTIME counter with auto-increment.
    • Per-HART 64-bit MTIMECMP registers.
    • Per-HART MSIP bits for software interrupts.
    • CSR-based register interface with proper naming.
    • Helper method add_to_soc() for easy integration.

  2. Minerva CPU Updates (litex/soc/cores/cpu/minerva/core.py):

    • Added CLINT interrupt support to Minerva CPU.

  3. Ibex CPU Updates (litex/soc/cores/cpu/ibex/core.py):

    • Added CLINT interrupt support to Ibex CPU.

  4. VexRiscv CPU Updates (litex/soc/cores/cpu/vexriscv/core.py):

    • Added CLINT interrupt support to VexRiscv CPU.

  5. SoCCore Support (litex/soc/integration/soc_core.py):

    • Added CLINT parameters (--with-clint).
    • CLINT instantiation for compatible CPUs.

  6. Software Support (.../irq.h, .../clint.h):

    • Generic Interrupt Service Routines (ISRs) to handle timer and software interrupts.
    • C functions for CLINT configuration and control provided via clint.h.

The implementation of the CLINT design is compliant with both the older SiFive CLINT design and the newer RISC-V ACLINT specification.

CLIC Hardware Integration in Litex

An advanced interrupt controller that provides enhanced features for real-time applications.

Summary of Changes:

  1. CLIC Core Module (litex/soc/cores/clic.py):

    • Implements RISC-V CLIC specification features.
    • Supports up to 4096 interrupts with configurable priority.
    • Edge/level trigger configuration per interrupt.
    • Hardware priority arbitration and interrupt preemption.
    • CSR interface for configuration registers.

  2. Minerva CPU Updates (litex/soc/cores/cpu/minerva/core.py):

    • Added CLIC interrupt signals (interrupt request, ID, priority).
    • Automatic CLIC instantiation when CPU has CLIC support.
    • Defined CLIC memory address region.

  3. Ibex CPU Updates (litex/soc/cores/cpu/ibex/core.py):

    • Added CLIC interrupt signals (interrupt request, ID, priority).
    • Automatic CLIC instantiation when CPU has CLIC support.
    • Defined CLIC memory address region.

  4. VexRiscv CPU Updates (litex/soc/cores/cpu/vexriscv/core.py):

    • Added CLIC interrupt support to VexRiscv CPU.

  5. SoC Integration (litex/soc/integration/soc.py):

    • Added add_clic() method for easy CLIC integration.
    • Automatic connection of interrupt sources to CLIC inputs.
    • CSR mapping for CLIC configuration.

  6. SoCCore Support (litex/soc/integration/soc_core.py):

    • Added CLIC parameters (--with-clic, --clic-num-interrupts, --clic-ipriolen).
    • CLIC instantiation for compatible CPUs.

Software Changes

The CLINT/CLIC Interrupt Controller Implementations if enabled in LiteX-based RISC-V SoCs can be accessed via software.

CLINT Software Integration in Litex

  1. Software Driver (.../irq.h, .../clint.h):

    • Provides generic Interrupt Service Routines (ISRs) for handling timer and software interrupts.
    • Includes C functions for configuring and controlling the CLINT via clint.h.

  2. Software Demo Application (clint_demo.c):

    • Demonstrates triggering and handling software interrupts using the CLINT.
    • Offers a practical example of utilizing the CLINT C API.

CLIC Software Integration in Litex

  1. Software Driver (.../irq.h, .../clic.h):

    • Implements generic ISRs for managing prioritized external interrupts.
    • Supplies C functions for configuring and controlling the CLIC via clic.h.
    • Features interrupt enable/disable, priority configuration, and attribute settings.
    • Supports direct CSR access for the first 16 interrupts.

  2. Software Demo Application (clic_demo.c):

    • Highlights advanced interrupt capabilities of the CLIC.
    • Includes tests for priority-based preemption, interrupt thresholding, and edge/level-triggered modes.
    • Serves as a detailed example of using the CLIC C API effectively.